OFTEC bleeder?

PaulAH · 15 Jan 2006

Do you have to be OFTEC registered to bleed an airlocked oil line? What would be the consequences of a competent (small C) general plumber doing the job?

Could someone point me to the official wording? I've spent several hours surfing for the information (now seeing double at ODPM's Part J regs / OFTEC / HSE etc) and can find plenty about gas/CORGI but no specific requirements or exclusions for oil.

breezer · 15 Jan 2006

no idea what so ever, but seach for oilman and his posts, i am sure i read something similar to this

PaulAH · 16 Jan 2006

seach for oilman and his posts

Have done that, Breezer - indeed scanned every reference to OFTEC - but can't see anything close enough.

It was easier searching the ODPM's site - there's less of it

oilman · 16 Jan 2006

PaulAH said:
Do you have to be OFTEC registered to bleed an airlocked oil line?

No.

What would be the consequences of a competent (small C) general plumber doing the job?

Would depend on his ability. Usually plumbers don't like getting their hands oily, though they're happy rooting about in a toilet pan.

Could someone point me to the official wording? I've spent several hours surfing for the information (now seeing double at ODPM's Part J regs / OFTEC / HSE etc) and can find plenty about gas/CORGI but no specific requirements or exclusions for oil.

It might help here, though they are a bit biased.

Turn off the oil valve you put in in the boiler casing.
Undo the inlet pipe to the oil pump.
Stick the end of the pipe in a suitable container.
Open the oil valve and let a litre or two run through.
Turn off valve.
Reconnect the oil pipe.
Wipe the joint with tissue.
Turn on the oil valve.
Wait 10 mins and check the joint for leaks with tissue.

But why do you think you need to bleed it?

PaulAH · 16 Jan 2006

This is getting ridiculous. I delay responding for 12 hours and the post is already half way down Page 2. Think of it as a fan club, guys.

Your reply is much appreciated, Oilman. We knew you'd have the answer.

But why do you think you need to bleed it?

Not a question of "thinking" - it actually happened. Oil ran out because supplier had failed to notice that the Signalman was not working. They delivered pronto but boiler would not fire on return home that evening due to airlock. A plumber friend dropped by and we fixed it. We intend to charge supplier for his time. Fair enough?

So the situation under law as I see it is:

Gas: All installation work and maintenance on "dry" side must be carried out by a Competent Person.

Oil: Notifiable work (which is entirely of an installation nature, not maintenance) must be carried out by a Competent Person or notified to Building Control who will (hopefully) sign it off.

Is that a reasonable summary?

oilman · 16 Jan 2006

But it works now, why worry?

You won't be able to charge the delivery company unless you offered them the chance to fix it unless they agreed to pay the bill. Though they might not know about you and think you are a good customer.

Agile · 16 Jan 2006

Perhaps I am missing something here but surely the installation is the responsibility of the owner and the fuel supplier has no responsibility for checking any part of its for performance?

Fuel line bleeding must be maintenance as its certainly not installation and only needs a competent person, I have known owners who can do it!

Tony

Birmingham_Spanner · 16 Jan 2006

This cust pays supplier good money for a signalman which fails. Supplier fails to notice and subsequently cust runs out of oil resulting in air-locked supply line.

If this was my customer I would be out there to resolve problem asap - gratis. Guess I'll never be rich though. Have you let TB know what happened yet Paul? What did they do? Any discount on signalman fees?

Responsibility with regards to OFTEC is a moot point. Suppliers seem to want all their delivery drivers to just fill up tanks and get to the next one. They must have their 600A though, which means they should at least be drawing customers attention to incorrectly loacated/dangerous tanks. And,according to OFTEC refusing to fill tamks that fail t comply I could count the number of correctly sited tanks I have seen on one hand though. They leave it to the service technicians to break the bad news.............................. I digress Sorry

PaulAH · 17 Jan 2006

Oilman said:
... they might not know about you and think you are a good customer.

Been with them in their various guises for 18 years, flawless payment record. Good enough?

I tried "offering them chance to fix it" but couldn't even raise anyone, it being a Friday evening.

We await developments. Thanks, everyone, for your advice.

Agile · 17 Jan 2006

"""This cust pays supplier good money for a signalman which fails. Supplier fails to notice and subsequently cust runs out of oil resulting in air-locked supply line. """

Obviously I dont know about this particular case but Texaco install and maintain the signalman free of charge to anyone signed up for their budget payment plan.

I have always taken the view that something provided free of charge comes without any liability for its performance.

Tony

oilman · 17 Jan 2006

This seems a cunning plan. People usually pay a premium price for oil delivered under one of these scams......er ........schemes, so they pretend they let you have the kit for free and get out of the liability. I think I'll fit free parts to boilers in future and just charge a whacking great appearance fee.

PaulAH · 18 Jan 2006

In fairness to the supplier, their current price is lower than any of several I found on the internet. But maybe these people jack them up as they are not, by nature, "local"suppliers.

kevplumb · 18 Jan 2006

jeez paul yowl ave owt for nowt

PaulAH · 18 Jan 2006

Oiz not understandin, Kev

kevplumb · 18 Jan 2006

bleeding woollybacks

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OFTEC bleeder?

breezer

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